Op-ed: November 8, 2016, America decided to elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the USA.

It is rare I watch a great deal of the U.S. election day as a British person who lives in Yorkshire.

But this election was different.

"We the people" as a group of people living in western democracies have often felt left behind and excluded as the political elite, perceived or real, mess with our lives.

Donald Trump managed to tap into that and with a little help from others including Ukip leader Nigel Farage persuaded enough American voters that:

​all politicians are bad

only wealthy people like Farage and Trump could and would represent the working classes

by voting for and with these type of candidates ordinary people were somehow taking back control and more

​As Tuesday night moved into Wednesday morning and Pres. Trump looked like a real possibility the markets responded.

The value of the Mexican Peso plummeted. Trump has after all vowed to build a wall between the States and Mexico and hit trade.

But now it is Pres. Trump the markets have started to accept the result.

Extreme right-wing European politician Marine le Penn has sent her congratulations to Trump and "Congratulations to the new president of the United States Donald Trump and to the free American people!” she said on Twitter."

UK unelected PM Theresa May has just congratulated Trump saying "UK and US have enduring special relationship."

​Is Pres. Trump a boost for BRexit Britain?

Trump has made a conciliatory election speech.

He now faces a steep learning curve.

He is now talking of unifying a very divided USA rather than concentrating on "we are going to build a wall", "lock her up", "Donald Trump is calling on a ban on all Muslims entering the USA" and using hyperbole.

With Republicans retaining Congress the right-wing of America's centric based politics could have a clean sweep and the ability to make many changes.

But many elected Republican politicians did not support Trump so he could have some in-house battles ahead.

Pres. Obama's second-term was dogged by a Republican Congress all too often limiting his powers; this time it could be Republicans fighting a Republican President.

On social media divisions are easy to see and have meant some voters verbally attacking those who voted for outsiders such as Jill Stein for weakening Clinton's vote but hey that's democracy.

Just a few hours ago Hillary Clinton conceded and she has called Trump to congratulate him.

On Tuesday November 8 time runs out for American citizens eligible to vote for the next President of the United States.

There are other candidates but the odds are the victor will be either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.

Donald Trump supporters and the man himself talk a good talk about him but it is all talk.

​Far from a self-made man Trump has a privileged background:

Donald John Trump was born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, the fourth of five children of Frederick C. and Mary MacLeod Trump. Frederick Trump was a builder and real estate developer who specialized in constructing and operating middle-income apartments in Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn. Donald was an energetic, assertive child, and his parents sent him to the New York Military Academy at age 13, hoping the discipline of the school would channel his energy in a positive manner. ​Trump did well at the academy, both socially and academically, rising to become a star athlete and student leader by the time he graduated in 1964. He then entered Fordham University and two years later transferred to the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1968 with a degree in economics. During his years at college, Trump secured education deferments for the Vietnam War draft and ultimately a 1-Y medical deferment after he graduated.

It does however note "Trump followed his father into a career in real estate development, bringing his grander ambitions to the family business."

But is it a case of like father like son in the Trump dynasty?

In 1950, American raconteur and folk icon ‪Woody Guthrie wrote a song about his landlord. It took over half a century for these lyrics to surface, but earlier this year, Guthrie scholar Will Kaufman unearthed the handwritten lyrics while performing research at the Woody Guthrie Archives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Normally a discovery like this would be notable for the folk set and Guthrie fanatics – but this song, and this year is different. Woody’s landlord was none other than Fred Trump, father of Donald J. Trump, and the subject matter could have been pulled directly from the campaign of 2016.

Now, in partnership with the Guthrie archives and the Guthrie family, Woody’s words have been put to music by California rock band U.S. Elevator; fronted by Johnny Irion who is married to Sarah Lee Guthrie, Woody’s granddaughter.

With a historic and handwringing election just a month away, U.S. Elevator is available to perform Woody Guthrie’s words at Democratic and Progressive events. US Elevator is offering this as a special engagement and not as promotion. ​We want Americans to hear what Woody had to say so that we remember that his wisdom – as well as the judgment of our country’s great thinkers, writers, artists, and singers – can protect us from treading dangerous paths.

I suppose that Old Man Trump knows just how much racial hate He stirred up in that bloodpot of human hearts When he drawed that color line Here at his Beach Haven family project Beach Haven ain't my home! No, I just can't pay this rent! My money's down the drain, And my soul is badly bent! Beach Haven is Trump’s Tower Where no black folks come to roam, No, no, Old Man Trump!Old Beach Haven ain't my home! I'm calling out my welcome to you and your man both Welcoming you here to Beach Haven To love in any way you please and to have some kind of a decent place To have your kids raised up in.Beach Haven ain't my home! No, I just can't pay this rent! My money's down the drain, And my soul is badly bent! Beach Haven is Trump’s Tower Where no black folks come to roam, No, no, Old Man Trump! Old Beach Haven ain't my home!

Rock NYC wrote in July "Guthrie’s letter to his landlord was recently uncovered by Will Kaufman, professor of American literature and culture at the University of Central Lancashire in Britain, and currently working on a book.

Kaufman discovered the letter on a trip to the Woody Guthrie Archives in Tulsa, and the writings reveal Guthrie’s indignation and bitterness facing Fred Trump’s flagrant racism.

After signing his lease, the folk singer discovered that Trump had enthusiastically embraced the FHA’s guidelines for avoiding ‘inharmonious uses of housing’… in clearer terms, guidelines for avoiding ‘selling homes in white areas to blacks’."

Op-Ed: You have to feel for American citizens as they are bombarded with political news in the run up to the 2016 Presidential election.

With a President having four years in office the country seems in perpetual campaign mode; mid-terms and the election of the candidates running for President fill in any gaps.

Monday night selection begins for real but the process of electing a leader for the Democrats and another for the Republicans is complicated and lengthy.

Tonight it is Iowa that gets the selection ball rolling in what could be a bumpy ride; bad weather could affect voting numbers.

Donald Trump chickened out of the final pre-selection TV debate last week perhaps taking a leaf out of UK PM David Cameron's book. Here in the UK in 2015 Cameron ducked and dived instead of joining other party leaders in a series of televised debates but came out the big winner.

If you still admire his wealth consider the numerous times he has been bankrupt and used cheap migrant labour to build his towers and make his goods. Cameron was helped along by Tory spin doctors allowed in post-debate press rooms even though he had not participated.

Trump may not be so lucky.

He is popular with a section of US voters but has no political credibility or experience and simply lurches from one ambitious claim to another.

Voters who admire the man for his money and business interests need to remember he was given a head start by his wealthy family. They also should remember his Mum was of Scottish origin and his Dad a German immigrant. Given Trump's abusive migrant comments surely the irony will not be lost on voters?

Pre-election polls though are often flawed. This could mean that Trump's popularity may not translate into hard votes on the day.

Newt Gingrich was another popular Republican candidate last time around but his GOP leadership campaign was not successful.

While Trump supporters in the USA dream of their man being the next occupant of the White House the rest of us can only offer a silent plea that he fails.Check back later for the result

Support NEWTEK - Like what we do here at NEWTEK? If so, you should consider supporting us…Running a news based website is fun, time consuming and can be costly. If you would like to help the site keep afloat please use the donate button​